Apparatus for constructing studded wooden walls

ABSTRACT

The apparatus used includes a master tape for each wall. This tape has on it a full scale lay out showing the positions of studding and other components of the wall. Also, for each floor of the building, pre-formed wall sections to be used to erect a starting corner are provided and a carriage to be supported on and moved along the wall and having on it stud member stop and positioning means and nailing machines is provided. The apparatus can be used by constructing a sub-floor with floor plates where walls are to be erected, placing the master tape on the sub-floor alongside of floor plates, erecting the starting corner and using it to support one end of a ceiling plate which is spaced directly above and is parallel to a floor plate, supporting the carriage on the ceiling and floor plates, moving the carriage to successive positions as indicated on the master tape, placing the studding against the stop and positioning means and using the nailing machines to nail the studding to the two plates.

United States Patent [191 Raab' t 1 I [11] 3,817,438 [451 June 18, 1974 APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING STUDDED WOODEN WALLS [76] Inventor: Owen E. Raab, 11825 Glendale Way, 8., Seattle, Wash. 98168 [22] Filed: July 10, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 270,530

Primary Examiner'-Granville Y. Custer, In

Abernathy 227/152 57 ABSTRACT The apparatus used includes a master tape for each wall. This tape has on it a full scale lay out showing the positions of studding and other components of the wall. Also, for each floor of the building, pre-formed wall sections to be used to erect a starting comer are provided and a carriage to be supported on and moved along the wall and having on it stud member stop and positioning means and nailing machines is provided. The apparatus can be used by constructing a sub-floor with 'floor plates where walls are to be erected, placing the master tape on the sub-floor alongside of floor plates, erecting the starting corner and usingit to support one end of a ceiling plate which is spaced directly "above and is parallel to a floor plate, supporting the carriage on the ceiling and floor plates,ir'noving the carriage to successive positions as indicated on the master tape, placing the studding against the stop and positioning means and using the nailing machines to nail the studding to the two plates.

' 6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING STUDDED WOODEN WALLS BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In constructing wooden walls in houses and similar buildings it is common practice to construct the subfloor with floor plates on it at the locations where walls are to be erected and then, using drawings and measuring devices, to measure and mark on the floor plates the locations of studding and other features and components to be built into the wall. The framing of the wall is usually then built, at least partially, in a horizontal position on the sub-floor and is later raised into a vertical position on the floor plate and supported while the bottoms of the stud members are being nailed to the floor plates and other features of the wall completed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of my invention is to provide apparatus for constructing a wooden wall which will make possible a saving in the amount of both time and labor required to construct the wall and, by so doing, reduce the cost of construction of the wall.

Another object is to provide apparatus for use in constructing walls which will make possible greater accuracy in positioning studding in a wall and help minimize cumulative errors in the framing of the wall.

Another object is to provide apparatus for use in wooden wall construction in which the correct positioriing of the studding and other framing in the wall is accurately laid out and clearly shown to actual and full size on a master tape which is disposed on a floor where it is clearly visible alongside of the wall being erected.

Another object is to provide a carriage which can be supported on and moved along a wall under construction to different locations which are marked on a master tape at the foot of the wall, the carriage being provided with stop and positioning devices against which wall studding and other wall components can be supported and with bubble tube devices which are clearly visible and make it easy to keep the wall plumb at all times and with nailing machines by which studding can be nailed while supported in a correct position by the carriage. l

the following description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF'DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary isometric view illustrative of an application of my invention to ordinary wooden walls in which vertical studding is used.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a fragment of a typical master tape suitable for use in erecting ordinary walls, for instance'walls used in housing, in accordance with my' invention. i

FIG. 3 is a view in front elevation of a carriage suitable for use in erecting walls in accordance with my invention.

FIG. .4 is an edge view. of the carriage looking in the direction indicated by line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view, with parts in plan, taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a detached plan view of a roller device used in movably supporting the carriage on ceiling and floor plates Other objects of my invention will be apparent from I FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation, with parts in section, showing a folding stop and positioning member providedon the carriage for optional use.

LIke reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT My invention is herein illustrated and described as applied to wooden walls of the type ordinarily used in the construction of houses and like wooden-buildings but it will be understood that it may be used to advantage in the construction of other walls.

In accordance with my invention and in accordance with the requirements of a building to be constructed I prepare a master tape 10 to be placed on the sub-floor 12 of a building alongside of each floor plate 13 on which a wall is to be erected. A full size lay out of the wall to which the master tape pertains is plainly marked on the tape. This lay out of the wall includes marks indicating the true center lines of all studding and vertical wall framing members and can include outlines to actual size of other wall components.

If a set of master tapes is to be used in constructing more than one building to the same plan then preferably said tapes are made of thin metal, such as an aluminum alloy, which can be rolled compactly and which will lie flat on a floor when unrolled and which can be used repeatedly. If a set of tapes are to be used in constructing one building only they-can be made of paper, plastic, or like pliable material which will not stretch or I change its length to an undesirable extent whensubjected to changes in temperature and moisture content. For use in framing walls of ordinary houses in which two by four inch studding is employed I find it satisfactory to make the more durable master tapes on metal about five inches wide and to make the less durable tapes at least a quarter of an inch wider. The metal tapes, being less liable to be displaced and blown around, are placed flaton the sub-floor alongside of the floor plates 13 after the floor plates have been nailed in place. When non-metal tapes are used then preferably an edge of each tape is inserted under its'floor plate before the floor plate is nailed down. This securely holds the non-metal tapes and minimizes the danger of them becoming displaced and they can be left in the floor when finish flooring is laid over the sub-floor.

The fragment of master tape 10 shown in FIG. 2 illustrates typical information which is ordinarily placed on a tape that is to be used in framing a wall of a wooden building, such as a house. This showing includes a window opening and a door opening. The rectangular outlines marks X indicate full length studding, those marked C indicate uprights shorter than studding and usually termed .cripples, the outlines marked 0 indicate short uprights of the length oridinarily used under windows and referred to as window jacks," and the group at lower right composed of three studding X and part 3 indicates a lead-in to which an inside wall or partition is to be attached. Part B indicates a block used for nailing purposes. For walls using 2 by 4 inch studding preferably graduation marks 11 are provided'on the tape 10 at 16 inch intervals to indicate the center line positions of studding where studding occurs.

In carrying out my invention I also provide two accurately squared wall sections 14 and 15,-each the full height of the wall to be framed and wide enough to form a substantial starting corner when they are erected as shown in FIG. 1. Preferably each wall section 14 and 15 comprises exterior sheeting having the required studding members 16 attached to its inner side. The stud members 16 on the wall sections 14 and 15 are correctly dimensioned and positioned so they will rest on the floor plates 13 and receive and support ceiling plates 17 when the wall sections are erected at right angles to each other as shown in FIG. 1. Only one starting corner formed by sections 14 and 15 will be required in the construction of all of the walls in one floor of an ordinary wooden building.

After a starting corner has been erected a ceiling plate 17 is placed on it and has one end portion secured to it and the other end of said ceiling plate is supported on a temporary supporting post 18 which can be quickly and easily removed later and replaced by a permanent studding member. This ceiling plate is directly above and parallel to a floor plate 13. Preferably the temporary supporting post 18 has transversely extending brace members 18' at both ends to stabilize it and help hold it upright.

A two part carriage of adjustable length, suitable for use in connection with my invention, is shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Preferably this carriage is formed of light weight metal and obviously its construction can be varied. Said carriage comprises an upper part formed of two side bars 19, a top bar 20 and a back plate 20 and a lower part composed of two side bars 21, a bottom bar 22 and a back plate 23. The side bars 19 and 21 are tubular and of rectangular cross section. The side bars of one part, such as the lower part of the carriage, have rigidly attached upwardly protruding members 24 which are suitably positioned and dimensioned to fit snugly, telescopically and adjustably into the tubular side bars 19 of the upper carriage part and can be secured in different adjusted positions relative to said side bars 19 by bolts or screws 25 to provide adjustment of the over all length of the carriage for walls of different heights.

Two roller carrying brackets, each indicated generally by 26, see also FIG. 6, are secured to the top bar 20 near the respective upper corners of the upper carriage part and are slidably supported on the ceiling plate 17 when the carriage is in an operative position. A similar bracket 26 is secured to an extended part 27 of the bottom bar 22 of the lower carriage part and rests slidably on and engages with the floor plate 13. The three bracket members 26 support the carriage for movement along the floor plate 13 and ceiling plate 17 and frictionally bind it to said two plates 13 and 17 firmly enough so it will remain in any position in which it is set but can readily be moved along said plates by hand.

Each bracket 26, FIG. 6, comprises a mounting plate 28 adapted to be rigidly secured to one of the bars 20 or 22. Two rods 29 are rigidly secured'to the mounting plate 28 in parallel, spaced apart relation and extend sidewise therefrom. A roller 30 is mounted on at least one of the rods 29 of each bracket for weight carrying engagement with the ceiling plate 17 or floor plate 13 on which it rests. A yoke 31 is slidably supported on the rods 29 and set collars 31' on the rods limit movement of the yoke 31 toward the mounting plate 28. A roller 32 is carried by yoke 31 and is positioned to engage with the inner edge of either a ceiling plate 17 or a floor plate 13. A compression spring 33 is provided on each rod 29 outwardly from the yoke 31 to resiliently hold the roller 32 in contact with the floor or ceiling plate with which it engages. A set screw 34 on each rod 29 adjustably supports the outer end of each spring 33.

The side bars 19 and 21 on the leading edge of the carriage are provided with stop and positioning members 35 which preferably have surfaces flush with the outer or leading edges of said side bars against which stud members can be placed to properly position them. Also preferably the other or trailing edge of each side bar 21 is provided with 'a folding stop and positioning member 40, FIG. 7, which is connected with side bar 21 by a pivot 41. Stop member 40 can be positioned so it protrudes forwardly from bar 21 or it can be folded alongside of bar 21 so it is out of the way of a just inserted stud member when the carriage is to be moved from one station to another. Stop member 40 is yielding retained in either its folded or its operative position by a detent spring 42 and it is braced and supported, when extended, by a catch member 43 with which it engages.

Stop and positioning member 35 and 40 are spaced apart just far enough so a stud member of standard dimension will fit snugly between them and be supported by them while it is being toe nailed to a floor plate 13. Obviously any desired number of the stop members 35 or 40 can be provided on either bar 21 or bar 19.

A pointer 36, FIG. 5, is secured to the leading end of extension 27 of carriage bottom bar 22. Pointer 36 extends forwardly above and across floor plate 13 and is adapted to be set on a graduation 11 of master tape 10 to properly position the carriage so that when a stud member 16 is supported against stop members 35 and carriage bars 21 and 19, as indicated by dash lines in FIG. 1, it will be in a correct position for nailing. Thus if master tape 10 and the carriage are designed for use in erecting studding sixteen inches apart the pointer will be spaced sixteen inches from the medial plane of the bars 21 and 19. 4

A nailing machine 37 is supported on the top bar 20 of the upper carriage part in a correct position to drive at least one nail downwardly through the ceiling plate 17 into the top end of a stud member 16 supported against stops 35 and frame bars 21 and 19. Another nailing machine 38, is secured to the leading edge portion of the carriage near the lower end thereof and is used to drive at least one nail, toe nail fashion, down through the bottom end portion of a stud member and into a floor plate 13. The bottom end portion of the stud member can be further nailed later from the other side if necessary. Preferably the workmen erecting the wall can operate either nailing machine 37 or 38 by punching a conveniently positioned control button, not shown. Also preferably two bubble tube devices 39 are secured to the back plate 20 of the upper carriage part where they can be observed conveniently by a person framing a wall to facilitate keeping the wall and its upright parts plumb at all times. I

The nailing machines 37 and 38 may be any of several known commerical types which are operated by compressed air and are readily available on the market. One such nailing machine is marketed under the trade name DURO-FAST and is manufactured by Fastener Corporation, of Franklin Park, 111., who have representatives in most of the larger cities of the United States. Nailing machines of this type are available complete with air pressure supply and control means. Usually nailing machines of this type are equipped with safety devices positioned near the location from which the nails are discharged and which must be in contact with the part being nailed before the operator can cause the machine to drive a nail. lf machines 37 and 38 are so equipped the safety device on the uppermost machine 37 will be in continuous contact with the ceiling plate 17 whenever theapparatus is in use and the safety device on the lowermost nailing machine 38 will always be contacted by any stud member which is correctly positioned for nailing. I

ln constructing a wall on a sub-floor 12 which has 'on it a floor plate 13 with one of my master tapes properly positioned alongside of it a starting corner is first erected using two of the pre-formed wall sections 14 and 15. A ceiling plate 17 is then secured in position with one end supported on the starting corner and the other end supported on a temporary support 18. The

- carriage is then applied to the two plates 17 and 13 and properly adjusted to the position where the first upright wall frame member is to be erected. The three brackets 26 firmly support the carriage and frictionally hold it in set position. The correct position of the carriage and an outline of the framemember to be erected at that position are clearly shown on the master tape, to full and actual scale close to and alongside of the floor plate 13 on which the frame member is to rest and the pointer 36, being close to the marks on the tape 10 insures exact positioning of the carriage. The first stud member to be erected is then positioned upright between the floor and ceiling plates 13 and 17 with one side against stop members 35 and one edge against the carriage frame bars 21 and 19. Preferably the thickness of the frame bars 21 and 19 is the same as the thickness of the stud members l6. The nailing machines 37 and 38 are then operated successively to first drive at least one nail through the ceiling plate 17 and into the top end of the stud member and then drive, at least one nail at an incline through the bottom end portion of the leading side of the stud member into the floor plate 13. The bottom end of the stud member can, later, be further toe nailed to the floor plate if desired. The carriage can be moved quickly from one position to another and successive stud members easily positioned and nailed. The two bubble tube devices are always plainly visible to indicate whether the wall and 'parts thereof are plumb or not.

The position of the pointer 36 relative-to the master Usually the ceiling plate will be of an accurately measured length and before the carriage is moved to its last position relative to said plate the temporary support 18 is removed and a permanent stud member installed in its place. The next ceiling plate is then erected and the framing of the wall continued in this manner until all of the walls on a floor of the building have been framed.

This method of framing'the walls by the use of the master tape 10 and the carriage saves a substantial amount of time and labor and this amounts to a saving in the cost of construction. The danger of errors in framing the wall is minimized because the master tape lays before the workman who is erecting the wall a full sized representation of the wall and relieves the workman of making substantially all of the measurements usually required in wall construction.

[claim 1. In apparatus for use in erecting the framing of a studded wooden'wall of a floor plate which rests on a floor and in which a ceiling plate is supported directly above and in parallel spaced apart relation from said floor plate; a carriage supported by said floor and ceiling plates for movement along said plates at one side of said plates; stud member stop and positioning means carried by said carriage operable in positioning a stud member supported against it; and a master tape adapted to rest flat on the floor alongside of the floor plate close to the lower part of the carriage, said master tape having on it marks to which the carriage is set to correctly locate stud members positioned against said 3. The wall framing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a nailing machine is supported by said carriage and positioned to nail an end of a stud member which is supported against the stop and positioning means on said carriage to one of said plates.

4. The wall framing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which two nailing machines are carried by said carriage and positioned to nail the top and bottom ends respectively of a stud member which is supported against the stop and positioning means on the carriage to the ceiling plate and the floor plate.

5. The wall framing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means that supports the carriage for movement along the ceiling and floor plates is provided with friction devices which frictionally engage said ceiling and floor plates and resist movement of the carriage along the wall.

6. The wall framing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the carriage comprises an upper part and a lower part and means adjustably connecting said two' ferent heights. 

1. In apparatus for use in erecting the framing of a studded wooden wall of a floor plate which rests on a floor and in which a ceiling plate is supported directly above and in parallel spaced apart relation from said floor plate; a carriage supported by said floor and ceiling plates for movement along said plates at one side of said plates; stud member stop and positioning means carried by said carriage operable in positioning a stud member supported against it; and a master tape adapted to rest flat on the floor alongside of the floor plate close to the lower part of the carriage, said master tape having on it marks to which the carriage is set to correctly locate stud members positioned against said stop and positioning means.
 2. The wall framing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a pointer is carried by the carriage and extends across the floor plate and has a part positioned close to the marks on the master tape.
 3. The wall framing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a nailing machine is supported by said carriage and positioned to nail an end of a stud member which is supported against the stop and positioning means on said carriage to one of said plates.
 4. The wall framing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which two nailing machines are carried by said carriage and positioned to nail the top and bottom ends respectively of a stud member which is supported against the stop and positioning means on the carriage to the ceiling plate and the floor plate.
 5. The wall framing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means that supports the carriage for movement along the ceiling and floor plates is provided with friction devices which frictionally engage said ceiling and floor plates and resist movement of the carriage along the wall.
 6. The wall framing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the carriage comprises an upper part and a lower part and means adjustably connecting said two carriage parts thereby providing for adjustment of the height of said carriage to adapt it for use on walls of different heights. 